Cotton cleaner and separator.



T. E. JOHNSTON. COTTON CLEANER AND fiEPARATOR.

APPLIOATIUN TILED APR. 17, 1908.

Patented Feb. 21, 1911.

' 2 sums-$113M] awwentoz ilttozmugo T. E. OHNS ON COTTON GLEANER AND SEPARATOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR.17, 1908.

Patented Feb. 21, 1911.

2 SLEEETS-SEEET 2.

" I 86mm 4 pheric pressure.

UNITED STATES Parana ora on.

-THOMAS E. JOHNSTON, OF AMITE, LOUISIANA, ASSIGNOR TO GIILLETT GIN COMPANY,

A CORPORATION OF LOUISIANA.

COTTON CLEANER AND SEPARATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 21, 1911.

Cleaners and Separators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and

exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same;

This invention relates to cotton cleaners and separators, and it consists in the im-.

proved apparatus hereinafter described for cleaning the product by the VflCLlllll'l method, that is, under reduced air pressure, a-nd continuing the operation under atmos- In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is aside elevation of a cleaner and separator embodying the features of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section through the structure shown in Fig. 1-.

' Fig. 3 isan' enlarged sectional view showing "pieces in chute 4; at

extends to the rear and is secured to a plate a catch and releasing means embodying ccr tam features of the invention.

Referring to the drawing by numerals, 1 indicates an opening through which the cotton is drawn preparatory to cleaning by means of suction that is applied to opening, 2. The suction created or applied at opening 2 may be provided by a suction fan 3 or any other desired means for creating a continuous suction at opening 2 so as to draw in cotton at opening 1 and to cause the cotton to travel through chute a. The chute or receiving member 4 may be made from any desired material, but preferably is made fromsheet metal pieces as 5 and 6, and with wooden end pieces 'for' holding the metal lace. Connected to the 'end of isa wire netting or mesh 8 that.

9. The mesh or wire, netting 8 is adapted to pass from one side of'the chute 4: to "the opposite side for forming together with the bottom of the chute a way through which the cotton is adapted to be drawn. The

- 1 plate 9' is' positioned directly to the rear. of

opening 1 so that" as the cotton enters chute 4 it will strike, against the plate which is preferably metal, and will then pass downward to a feeding member or fan 10. In,

- passing downward from late-9 the cotton passes a perforated meta ic plate 11. Durchain 20 in proper placeand under proper ing the passage of the cotton from opening 1 to fan 10 it is subject to the action of suction from fan 3, and While being subject to such suction the dirt and other foreign matter is drawn through wire mesh 8, and the perforated plate 11, but is not afiected by the suction after it has been engaged by fan 10. A plurality of bafiie plates 12 are providcd above screen 8 for receiving the impact of the dirt from the cotton and guides the dirt toward opening 2, and then the'dirt enters fan 3 or passes out any other desired place as may be desired. The dirt or other foreign matter drawn through perforated plate l1.w'ill also pass downward and out opening 2. 1

Fan 10 rotated by shaft 13 that may b driven by any desired power- (not shown). Fan 10 is adapted to. receive and force downward cotton from chute 4, and by this par ticular construction and arrangement will receive and force downward the cotton, but will not permitsuction from opening 2 to act below the fan as the blades of the fan are provided with flexible. members lt that, together with the blades, forn1 an air-tight joint. By, this construction and arrange ment the fan 10 may berotated at any desired speed and yet will not permit the least amount of suction to act below the fan, but

-will readily receive andforce the cotton to cotton to be fed properly to fan 10, and from thence to rollers 16 and 17 Fan 10 is partially surrounded by sheet metal plates 18 and 19 so as to prevent the suction from opening 2 from acting upon any cotton that is passed below the fan. and reached rollers 16 and 17. Whencotton is forcedagain'steither of the rollers 16 and 17, the rollers will engage the cotton and force the same in a, continuous stream to ,a comparatively large roller or cylindrical member 21. Chain, 20 is adapted to pass over gear wheels 22 and 23, and also over gear wheels 24 and 25 so that whenever shaft 13 is rotated gear wheel 24 will be rotated as said gear wheel is rigi'dly secured'to. shaft An idler 26 isprovided for holding stopping offthe chute, and will permit the tension. As shaft 13 revolves and eventuall revolves rollers 16 and 17, the rollers wi 1 receive the cotton and force the'cotton by means of rojections 27 and 28 into ena ement with the spurs 29 of roller or cylm er 21. The spurs or projections 27 and 28 are preferably mounted upon their respective cylinders or rollers in a staggered or zigzag formation. The rollers 16 and 17 are adapted to rotate faster than fan 10, but do not at each rotation feed -or draw the same amount of cotton so that if the cotton is being fed too fast into chute 1 fan 14 will become filled andwill simply rotate full of cotton, but will not stop or be clogged up, but will permit rollers 16 and 17 to remove from between the blades of the fan the 'cotton as the rollers 16 and 17 dispose of the cotton. already engaged thereby. By this action of rollers 16 and 17 a continuous strip of cotton is forced against roller 21 and is engaged thereby during the rotation thereof.

As roller or cylinder 21 rotates it will force the cotton against a screen or wire mesh-- and finally force the cleaned cotton out an opening 31 from which the cotton is adapt-- ed to be conveyed to a regular cot-ton gin to-v be ginned in the usual manner.'

During the action of rollers 16, 17 and 21, the dirt and other foreign substances are removed by suction, through screen 30, and

drop into chute 32, from-which they are conveyed by an auxiliary chute 33 to a place of disposal. Chute 32 comprises end pieces struck on an arc corresponding with the curvature of screen 30 secured thereto so that when chute 32 is swung upon its hinges 3 1 from between the end sections of the housing 35 to expose roller 21 and the other mechanism in housing 35, screen 30 will also be lowered .for inspection or cleaning as' may be desired. In order to properly'hold chute32- in position a;catch 36 is provided that engages a lug 37 upon the lower part of housing 35. An arm 38 is provided for engaging catch 36 and is adapted vto'bero tated by a shaft 39 which extends to the'eze.

teri'or or casing 35, and is provided with'a handle or crack 40 so that whenever it is desired' to swing chute 32 upon its pivot crank orhandle 40. is swung for disengaging catch 36 and lug 37. Previous to the disengagement of catch 36 and lug 37- auxiliary chute 33 must be moved out of contact with "free swinging action of the chute. I 3

In operation when it is desired to clean some cotton previous to feeding the cotton the suction from fan .3. The cottoncon to a gin, the cotton is fe'dto opening 1 by any desired means and is drawninto chute 4 by suction; from fan. 3. As thecotton through .chute 4 the same strikes against screen 8,-and has'partof. the dirt and foreign matter removed therefrom by screen; adjacent the spiked rqI tinues .to travel downward from chute 4 to the restricted portion 14. and as it passes erforated plate 11 additional dirt that has become loosened during the travel of the cotton may ass therethrough and out openin 2. A win. o'w 41 if desired may be provide for viewing the cotton as the same travels through the chute. Cotton passes from chute 4 into fan 10 and is forced therefrom. to rollers 16 and 17 and is formed into a continuous strip, by these rollers, and at the same time additional dirt and foreign matterare removed by the reforming of the cotton. The cotton then passesto roller 21 and is again agitated during its travel around screen 30, and finally passes out opening 31. During the tearing or reforming action of rollers 16 and 17 and also roller 21 the dirtand forei n matter are removed and are permitted to ro through screen 30 into 85 chute 32 and from thence to auxiliary chute 33. By this construction most of the dirt is removed by the suction from fan 3 as the cotton passes through Clllli'BFl, but "any dirtor foreign matter that is mixed in the cotton so thoroughly as not to be removed by the suction is removed by the action of rollers 16 and 17, together with roller 21 f and screen 30 so that when the cotton is finally taken from the machine at it appears in a substantially continuous's trip -though in a slightly fluffy condition but cleaned of substantially all dirt and other foreign matter, and is ready for 'thegin. 1 The plate 19 is secured-'to a removable portion 42 of housing 35 and may bemoved' away from-fan 10 as clearly shown in dotted lines in Fig 2. This'will-perrnit an examination of the fan for cleaning'or otherwise as may be desired.

Wh l-tIClEimiSZ. v 1. In adevi'ce of "the class described,.a chute, a substantially cylindrical valve casing communicatin' with the chute at. one side and openat t 'e' opposite side, 'a'io'tmy valve within the casing, means for ex'hf ing air from thelchute above the val ing, spaced retarding rollers journal {)acerit the opening, a spiked roller. dis 'elow aridbetween' the retarding roll swinging chute section" beneath said. and extending radially therefrom, screen arranged transversely of the ingsection and being carried thereby, catch carried by the swinging rod adjacent to said section and- 'prov 1 with aprojecting portion arrangedto're 4 lease the catch. .2. In a pneumatic cottoncleaning apparatus, achute, 'a' partition wall therein -extending lengthwise of. the chute, an imperforate v a lve casing, said partition wall constituting one side of the valve casing and being provided-withv apertures above such casing, means for exhausting air from above such casing, a rotating air valve journaled in the casing, rollers disposed adjacent the cas'- ing, a spiked roller adjacent the rollers last mentioned, a screen adjacent the spiked roller, a swinging chute section beneath the spiked'roller and extending radially therefrom, said screen arranged transversely ofthe swinging section and being carried there- 10 by, a catch carried by the swinging section l and a rod adjacent said section and provided with a projecting portion arranged to release the catch.

In testlmony whereof I affix my slgnature 111 presence of two wltnesses.

THOMAS E. JOHNSTON.

Vitnesses:

F. E. DoLToNDE, CHAS. R. PORTER. 

